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Membership and Enrollment

4-H youth development education programs are created and conducted principally for youth in grades K-12th. To be eligible for membership in Arkansas 4-H, the following age groups will apply:

Cloverbuds become official participants on their 5th birthday. Activities should be restricted to non-competitive educational programs. No competitive events will be conducted for Cloverbuds at the district or state level. Counties should avoid conducting competitive 4-H events for this age group.

Research indicates that this age group's comprehension of competition or judging one over the other is limited and may be harmful to development of a positive self-esteem.

Junior members are youth who are age 9 as of January 1 and become eligible to participate in district or state activities at this time.

Senior 4-H members are youth who are age 14 as of January 1 and must compete as a senior 4-H member. Senior members may participate and/or compete in 4-H activities and events until December 31 of the year they celebrate their 19^th birthday. After that date they may continue in 4-H through the collegiate 4-H program, the alumni program, and/or become a volunteer leader. 

Collegiate 4-H is a national organization where 4-H members can extend their involvement in 4-H while attending college. Collegiate 4-H provides a higher level of 4-H experience, with major emphasis on service, leadership, and personal development. Collegiate 4-H is an open and dynamic student organization involving active outreach to young people and their communities. College students conduct youth development programs in leadership, service learning, individual and group development. In turn, members enhance their personal development through community service and participation in social events.

Membership Implications for Fairs - Extension and 4-H do not set policy for eligibility of junior exhibitors for county, district, and state fairs. However, it is our recommendation as professional youth developers that the age for junior exhibitors coincide with the official age for 4-H competition (ages 9-19). This is suggested especially for district and state fairs and preferably county fairs as well. If county fairs do allow younger youth (ages 5-8) to exhibit, it is recommended that the recognition (ribbons, small trophies, etc.) be identical. Research indicates that this age group's comprehension of competition or judging one over the other is limited and may be harmful to development of a positive self-esteem.

4-H membership must be through one of the Cooperative Extension Service's 75 county 4-H programs in Arkansas. A youth becomes a "4-H member" when he/she either completes an individual enrollment form, F.Y.4-H - 617 (MSWord PDF), or is included in a group enrollment form such as 4-H Youth Participant enrollment form, FY4-H-603 which must be on file in the county Extension office. A youth participants in 4-H by belonging to a 4-H club or any recognized unit of membership (see "Types of Membership") in the county where he/she resides.

A 4-H member must declare a "home county" for membership in order to qualify for district or state competition. A 4-H member cannot compete for awards in qualifying activities in more than one county. Only one county can report club membership for a 4-H member at a time. A youth may belong to project groups and/or attend and/or participate in educational activities in more than one county if allowed by both counties.

4-H club members transferring from one location to another will be accepted by the county in which they reside and given full credit for their past 4-H work or achievements after verification from the state office they are not under any disciplinary action by a 4-H review board.

Marriage and parenthood are not barriers to 4-H club membership or participation provided age requirements are met.